Broken Promises

e Minnesota Dakota and the United States government signed nine treaties between 1805 and 1858, though the Doty Treaty was never ratified. e most influential and well-known are the 1851 Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota. Unable to pay debts claimed by fur traders, and in perilous economic condition, the Wahpeton and Sisseton Dakota signed a treaty at Traverse des Sioux on July 23, 1851. Dakota leaders agreed to sell their lands west of the Mississippi to the United States, in exchange for $1,665,000 and a permanent home ten miles on either side of the Minnesota River, from present-day New Ulm to Lake Traverse. Meanwhile, representatives from the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute tribes reluctantly signed their lands away in Mendota for $1,410,000 on August 5. e treaties created the Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux reservations, and opened 24 million acres to newcomers. In addition to the treaties, Dakota leaders were deceived into signing a document referred to as the “traders’ papers.” ese illegal papers redirected the money they were promised for their land to traders. e 1851 treaties were ratified by the U.S. Senate without a “Father, now guarantee of the reservation in when I sign perpetuity. Such deceit and broken this paper and promises increased tensions among the Dakota, traders, you go to Washington and U.S. government. with it, I want you

courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society to see all that is

Territory Ceded by the 1851 Dakota Treaties Dakota Reservations on the Upper Minnesota River written here fulfilled.” ~ Wee-tehan-h’pee-ee-tay-toan, 1851

“Father, you think it a great deal you are giving for this country. I don’t think so, for both our lands and all we get from them will at last belong to the white man.”

~ Oo-pee-ya-hen-day-a, 1851

051020 40 60 Maps created by Eric C. Cronin, Gustavus Adolphus College 0510 20 30 Legend Miles from the collections of the Nicollet County Historical Society Miles ___ Boundary of Ceded Territory __ Major Rivers Cities • (Present-day cities shown as reference points.)

The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux,July 1851,oil on canvas, ca. 1881–ca. 1885, painting by Frank Blackwell Mayer (1827–1899). from the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society